My Dear Chris,

I had asked you to stop harassing me about this matter. To repeat - I retired as Admin three years ago, it is not my website, I have no residual moderation power whatsoever and so to do as you ask is not possible. It would also contravene the law.

Not to mention it's also technically impossible when you 38,000 ft over the Atlantic as I was yesterday and had, still haven't, any clue as to what you were even referring to.

I'm really sorry you are unable to accept this but no amount of wishful thinking on your part can change reality.

I have never lied to you Chris. Ironically in copying that accusation to witnesses you have, again, libeled me - but I will let that go.

Instead let us address the very clear and public libel you published on se23.life and Twitter concerning my stewardship of the platform on which STF operates.

You took a 'mySQL4 error' to say I was running old and unsupported software from Oracle Corporation which posed a danger to anyone using the platform. You used this as an obvious ploy to discredit me and destroy STF to the advantage of your own platforms.

This claim appeared plausible to the lay eye and I had to go to some effort to allay some fears - even to STF's Admin. Who knows what damage you really and irresponsibly did?

Based on a lie. Because you knew, or should have known as an experienced SysAdmin, that any modern platform would - or could - be using such outdated software. That the return refers to a driver mode - and is no way indicative of what software is actually running.

This platform has NEVER run Oracle's MySQL in ANY version. It runs the very latest version of MariaDB as do many of the world's leading organisations in its place - because, well we believe it to be superior and even more secure.

So your statement could not be more wrong. If it was an honest error on your part you could have quickly issued a mea culpa which is what we should, as professionals do, but you didn't. You have maintained the libel to this day.

So let's get back to removing the libels we can. Starting with with this accompanied by issuing a prominent, sincere and unambiguous public apology fairly stating the facts. [It might save further friction if we can agree a wording beforehand]

As to restitution - it being the Christmas season of goodwill - may I suggest you join me in sponsoring a roof for a homeless person over the festive season so that something good comes from this.

https://www.crisis.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

I hope you will be expeditious in sorting this. Until then its radio silence from this end.

Regards,
Stuart